Adjustment apparatus for a sunroof

ABSTRACT

An adjustment apparatus for a sunroof includes a cover support element (19), a guide element (13a, 13b), a carriage element (3), and control (4 through 7) for the adjustment of the cover piece. The cover support element (19), with the cover piece (8) can be tilted around a first cam (7a) and displaced. The control join the cover piece with the carriage element in a manner relative to each other such that they can be displaced along the aforementioned longitudinal direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Area of the Invention

The invention relates to an adjustment apparatus for a sunroof thatexhibits at least one cover piece for the optional closing and at leastpartial uncovering of a roof opening in a solid roof area of a vehicle,particularly an automobile, in which the roof opening is delimited by abase piece with side pieces that define a longitudinal direction andthat lie opposite one another, and in which the cover piece isdisplaceable along the aforementioned longitudinal direction. Anadjustment apparatus of this type includes at least one cover supportelement, one guide element for a carriage element that serves as thedrive for the cover piece, and a means of control for the adjustment ofthe cover piece. The cover support element, of which there is at leastone, is rigidly joined with the cover piece and can be tilted (swiveled)around a first cam that runs cross-wise to the aforementionedlongitudinal direction and that is placed near the front edge of thecover, and can be displaced along the aforementioned longitudinaldirection by means of a cam. The guide element, of which there is atleast one, extends along the aforementioned longitudinal direction andis secured to the base piece. The carriage element, of which there is atleast one, is guided in a displaceable fashion along the aforementionedguide element and thereby along the aforementioned longitudinaldirection and moves the cover piece. The means of control for adjustingthe cover piece join the cover piece to the carriage element in a mannerin which they can be moved relative to one another along theaforementioned longitudinal direction.

One preferred area of application for the invention is the so-called"spoiler roof". These are sliding roofs for vehicles, especiallyautomobiles, that include a movable, cover-like closing element for aroof opening and are constructed in such a way that when a driveapparatus is actuated, for example, a crank, first the rear end of theclosing cover raises up so that it is tilted and then, following that,the closing cover is displaced approximately horizontally whileretaining the tilted position.

The area of application of the invention includes not only thosesunroofs which are built in at the factory during the manufacture of thevehicle, but also those sunroofs which can be installed afterwards.

2. Description of the State of the Art

A "spoiler roof" with an adjustment apparatus of the type described atthe beginning is known from DE 33 11 452 C2. In the case of this knownadjustment apparatus, the transport carriage and the guide/swivel cam ofthe cover support element in same are rigidly placed in the frame of thesunroof, and are guided and displaced in guide elements that extendcompletely straight. The transport carriage is joined only indirectly,but not directly, with the cover support element, and specifically, bymeans of a swiveling lever that is controlled by the transport carriageand that is secured in a swiveling manner to the cover and to the coversupport element on one side, and is guided at its opposite end in adisplaceable fashion in the above-mentioned guide element. This leverrepresents a means of height adjustment at the rear and includes, inaddition, a locking element that prevents the cover piece from beingdisplaced to the rear while it is being tilted upward.

This locking element, together with the above-mentioned guide element,is used in addition to ensure that the cover that has been displaced tothe rear cannot be tilted back into the closed position as it is beingmoved forward, but rather, only after it has reached its position ofmost forward movement, that is, a position in which it is completelyabove the opening in the roof. This adjustment apparatus thus requires alarge number of components with complicated shapes, and to that extent,distinguishes itself little from adjustment apparatuses for other knownspoiler roofs.

A different adjustment apparatus for a "spoiler roof" is known from DE38 01 881 C2. Although this known adjustment apparatus dispenses withone lever of the type that was described above in connection with DE 3311 452 C2, the number of necessary components and the complexity of theshapes, as well as the multiple sequences of movements of thecomponents, is no less than is the case in accordance with DE 33 11 452C2, because independent components are required for holding the cover inits position of most forward movement during the tipping up of the coverand for preventing the tipping down of the cover as it is being movedforward. In the case of this known adjustment apparatus, the coversupport element--in contrast with the adjustment apparatus in accordancewith DE 33 11 452 C2--is not guided directly in a guide that is providedin the sunroof frame and supported by a corresponding guide cam, butinstead, the cover support element is entirely supported by thetransport carriage at two points that lie one behind the other, and iscontrolled by the transport carriage with respect to its swiveling andheight adjustment movements.

Disclosure through Reference

With regard to the components and the means of control that are knownfor adjustment apparatuses for spoiler roofs and that are made use of,or if need be, can be made use of by the adjustment apparatus inaccordance with the invention, for one, the technical disclosure throughreference that is known by means of the already cited documents DE 33 11452 C2 and DE 38 01 881 C2 is included in this patent. In addition, DE40 37 975 A1 is also included through reference, because it is alreadyknown by means of that document that the adjustment apparatus for aspoiler roof can be housed in a center brace that divides the roofopening, and not in the side pieces of the frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The goal of the invention consists in creating a sunroof of the typementioned at the beginning that possesses a simply constructed system ofcontrol.

A particular goal of the invention consists in being able to dispensewith separate locking elements during the tipping movement of the coverand during the sliding movement of the cover.

This task is resolved in accordance with the invention by means of thefact that

a first connecting link is provided that extends essentially along theaforementioned longitudinal direction, is fastened to the base piece,and defines a first guide curve, and in which the cam of the coversupport element (first cam) is guided.

the carriage element and the cover support element are joined, by meansof a second connecting link that defines a second guide curve and bymeans of a second cam that is guided in the second connecting link, insuch a way that the first cam moves along or parallel to the secondguide curve relative to the carriage element when the second cam ismoved within the second connecting link, and

the first and the second guide curves, in all working positions of thecarriage element that are provided along the guide element, form anangle with one another of such a kind that the positions of the firstand second cams are always uniquely defined, not only along the firstconnecting link but also along the second connecting link as well, andthe carrying along of the cover support element by the carriage elementis assured.

In the case of the adjustment apparatus in accordance with theinvention, control cams are thus guided simultaneously on two guidecurves that run in opposite directions and whose point of intersectionuniquely defines the horizontal and vertical position of the coversupport element, that is, of its cams. The forming of the angle by thetwo guide curves ensures that the transport carriage moves the cover inthe desired direction with each movement of the transport carriage. Inconjunction with that, the distance covered by the cover support elementcan amount, per unit of distance covered, to between 0 and 100 percentof the distance covered by the carriage. Advantageous configurations ofthe invention are described in the sub-claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred implementation example of the invention is described indetail in the following by means of the drawing. The following areshown:

FIG. 1 A section view of a sunroof (spoiler roof) in accordance with theinvention with a closed cover, whereby the plane of the section is avertical plane parallel to the direction of displacement, that is,parallel to the longitudinal direction,

FIG. 2a A section view of the same spoiler roof along the same sectionplane as in FIG. 1, in which the cover and the transport carriage areshown in a second operating position, FIG. 2b An additional section viewof the same spoiler roof along the same section plane as in FIG. 1 and2a, in which the cover and the transport carriage are shown in a thirdoperating position,

FIG. 3 A section view (partial) of the same spoiler roof, whereby theplane of the section is a vertical plane perpendicular to the to thedirection of displacement (section along the line III--III in accordancewith FIG. 2a),

FIG. 4 A perspective representation (exploded view) of the mainfunctional parts of the adjustment apparatus for the same spoiler roof,and

FIGS. 5a to 5e A sequence of functions during the open/close procedureof the same spoiler roof in a partial detail representation of the mainfunctional parts of the adjustment apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED FORM OF IMPLEMENTATION

In the preferred form of implementation, a spoiler roof that exhibitsthe invention includes a base piece that is configured as a frame 1 thatis fixed in the roof and that it could be possible to retrofit, acarriage element that is configured as a transport carriage 3, and acover piece that is configured as cover 8. In the implementationexample, the frame 1 is provided in order that it can be installed in acorresponding roof opening 31 in a solid roof surface 32 of a vehiclesuch as an automobile. The cover 8 is intended to close the roof opening31, and is mounted by means of the transport carriage 3 in a manner suchthat it can be tilted and moved with reference to the frame 1. In thefollowing, for the sake of simplicity it will be assumed that the frame1 prescribes the horizontal plane.

The frame 1 is essentially shaped in the form of a rectangular withrounded corners, and limits to the inside the free opening area in thevehicle roof. Near the edge of the opening, the frame 1 carries anencircling horizontal support surface 16 for the cover 8 in the form ofa resilient sealing profile section.

The frame 1 exhibits two parallel side pieces 11 that define alongitudinal direction S. The longitudinal direction S coincides withthe direction of displacement of the cover 8. Each side piece 11includes a straight, symmetrical, right/left mirror-image multifunctionprofile section 11', preferably made of metal. Formed in it are twooptionally usable guide channels 12' for a drive cable 12 (shown in FIG.3). The guide channel that runs in the longitudinal direction S opens,in the form of a longitudinal groove 12", towards the inside to themultifunction profile section 11', which is--roughly speaking--U-shapedin cross-section. Because of that, a drive connection element 33 (seeFIG. 3) can engage a groove in the the transport carriage 3 that isconfigured as a coupling location and bring about the displacement ofthe transport carriage 3 in the longitudinal direction S during fore andaft movements. For this purpose, the drive cable 12 is joined--in amanner that is itself well-known--with a hand-operated crank drive, anelectric motor, or a similar kind of drive mechanism, that moves thedrive cable 12 back and forth in its guide channel. For its guidance ina tilt-free manner, the transport carriage 3 exhibits, along thelongitudinal direction S on both of its longitudinal sides, projections3' that possess upper and lower guide surfaces 3" and 31"'.Corresponding with this is inside the multifunction profile section ll'a straight guide element that exhibits upper and lower guide surfaces13a, 13b. The latter are formed, on the one hand, from a flat undersideof a guide profile section 2' that can be inserted into themultifunction profile section ll', and on the other, from an innersurface of the multifunction profile section 11'. The paired guideprofile 2', which is, in particular, configured as a formed plasticpart, exhibits a first connecting link 2 that defines a first guidecurve 2'. This is configured as a groove and climbs steeply in thelongitudinal direction S, in a, when viewed in the direction of opening,that is, essentially along the longitudinal direction S of the coverpiece 8, (front) section 2". After this, it transitions into a directionthat is essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction S. The steepclimb takes place at an angle of about 60°. It is perfectly possible forthis climb to be steeper, even 90° if so desired, but it can also beflatter as well, for example, 40°. The subsequent course of theconnecting link could, of course, drop off after passing through amaximum, but a course that is parallel to the longitudinal direction Sor that climbs slightly is preferable. The manner of working of theconnecting link 2 will be described in more detail in connection withthe following Figures. The guide profile sections 2' are easily insertedinto the recesses that are provided for them on the inner side of theedges of the multifunction profile section 11', and allow room over mostof their length for the tilt-free guiding of the transport carriage bymeans of the side projections 3'. This can be seen especially clearly inthe middle part of FIG. 4.

The transport carriage 3 is provided with a second connecting link 5,which defines a second guide curve and is in the form of a slot. Thisslot falls (when observed from the front of the roof opening 31 in thelongitudinal direction S, that is, always from the left in the drawing)very steeply at first and subsequently an a much flatter manner, namely,at an angle of about 5° relative to the longitudinal direction S. Thecourse of this slot thus follows a strongly monotonic falling course inthe direction of opening of the cover 8. The manner of working of thissecond connecting link will also be described in more detail later. --Aswas the case with the projections 3', the second connecting links 5 andall of the additional parts of the transport carriage 3 are configuredin pairs and as mirror images of each other.

The transport carriage 3 exhibits at its, when viewed in the directionof opening, back end, a cam 4 that is oriented at a right angle to thelongitudinal direction S, that is, a pair of cams that are orientedcoaxially and that face each other. The cam 4 is a component of a meansof control, itself well-known, to bring about a change in height, and inparticular, to tilt the cover 2 towards the front. To do this, the cam 4works in conjunction with a plate-like projection 20 that is fastened tothe cover 8 and with a slot 6 that is provided in the projection, inwhich slot the cam 4 works in the manner of an additional connectinglink guide that is comprised of a connecting link pin and a connectinglink groove. This means of control is known in all of its details fromDE 38 01 881 C2, among others, and thus does not need to be explainedfurther here.

Of course, in order to reduce the friction of the cams that are beingguided in the connecting links 2, 5 and 6, appropriate measures, such asputting swiveling rollers, can be used such as are--likewise--describedin DE 38 01 881 C2 for this purpose.

The cover 8 is comprised in known fashion of a flat or slightly curvedpanel made of metal, glass, plastic, or something similar. The cover 8can be tilted, that is, swiveled, around an axis that runs transverselyto the longitudinal direction S, by means of a cover support elementthat is rigidly joined with the cover. For this purpose, the coversupport element exhibits a bracket 19' that goes vertically downward andthen kinks forward at an angle. This is provided with a pair of firstcams 7a that protrude from it sideways and that encompass the tilt axisof the cover 8. These cams are displaced in the first connecting link 2along the first guide curve, which is determined by this connectinglink.

At the same time, there are provided on the bracket 19' second cams 7b,which lie further to the inside than the first cams 7a, but on the sametilt axis, and are guided in the first connecting links 5 relative tothe transport carriage 3. --In accordance with the preferred specialcase that is shown in the implementation example, the cams 7a and 7bthus are all provided on a common cam 7. In principle, however, thesecond cams 7b can also be placed on the cover support element 19displaced with reference to the tilt axis of the cover and thus withreference to the first cams 7a as well. In that case, the control of themovement of the tilt axis of the cover 8 takes place jointly by means ofboth cam/connecting link guides 7a, 2 and 7b, 5. This will be explainedin detail later.

In the former case, in order to simplify assembly, the cover supportelement 19 also carries the above--mentioned projection 20, as well as aslot-like displacement guide 36, which is configured in pairs, for therear end of a tension element 37, which is secured to the transportcarriage 3 in a swiveling fashion, and which carries a locking part 21that works in conjunction with a buttress 9 to lock the cover in itsrear area. The buttress 9, which is configured in a paired fashion, canbe inserted into and secured in undercut longitudinal grooves 9' at theupper end of the U-segment of the multifunction profile section 11'. Itbasically consists of formed plastic parts that are configured assymmetrical mirror images (see FIG. 4 in particular).

The function of the adjustment apparatus in accordance with theinvention is explained in the following.

As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the cam 7 engages, by means of its outersegments 7a, with both sides of the bracket 19' through the firstconnecting link 5 all the way into the connecting link 2, and is guidedalong this first connecting link 2. The cam sections 7b engage only withthe second connecting link 5. All of the cams 7 are guidedsimultaneously through the first connecting link 2 and through thesecond connecting link 5.

The sequence of FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b is made clear in principle by thegeometrical arrangement of the first and second connecting links 2 and 5relative to one another, and by the positions of the cams 7 and thevarious positions of the cam 4 of the means of control 4, 8 in the slot6. For reasons of clarity, however, the function of the adjustmentapparatus is shown by means of the sequence of FIGS. 5a through 5e.

By virtue of the fact that the second cam 7b is guided in the connectinglink 5 that is present in the guide slot 3, the transport carriage 3 islinked by means of its connecting link 5, the second cam 7b, and thebracket 19' in a driving arrangement with the cover 8. By virtue of thefact that the the first cam 7a is likewise fastened to the bracket 19',this first cam 7a also moves along the second guide curve relative tothe transport carriage 3, and specifically, when the second cam 7b ismoved within the second connecting link 5. The beginning of this cammovement relative to the guide slot 3 is shown in FIG. 5a, and the endof this relative movement is shown in FIG. 5d. FIGS. 5b and 5c showintermediate positions.

Now, the first connecting link 2 and the second connecting link 5--whenviewed from the longitudinal direction S--exhibit a course of such atype that, in all of the working positions along the guide element 13a,13b of the transport carriage 3, they form an angle A relative to thefirst and second cams 7a and 7b. Because of that, and because of anappropriate positioning of the first and second connecting links witheach other, it is possible to achieve the fact that the positions of thecams 7a and 7b are always uniquely determined, both along the firstconnecting link 2 as well as along the second connecting link 5. In thecase of the implementation example at hand, in which the first andsecond cams 7a and 7b are oriented coaxially, it must prevent the firstand second connecting links from overlapping in a parallel orientedposition at any position of the transport carriage 3, and the common cam7 from being in this overlap area. In that event, a forward and backmovement of the transport carriage would not lead to a unique camposition.

In order to ensure that the common cam 7 is not clamped in a fixedfashion between the two connecting links 2 and 5 during a forward andback movement of the transport carriage 3, a too-small angle is to beavoided. An angle of between 30° and 150° is as a rule completelysufficient to prevent any jamming of this nature. Greater angles,preferably between 70° and 110°, are particularly preferable. Ingeneral, the principle holds true that the bringing along of the coversupport element 19 by the moving transport carriage 3 must always beensured.

Since in the implementation example shown, the first connecting link 2and the second connecting link 5 guide the common cam 7 at the sametime, the position of the common cam 7 for a given position of thetransport carriage 3 thus must always lie at the point of intersectionof the two connecting links. This prevents the cover 8 from changing itsposition without the transport carriage 3 being moved. In this way it isadditionally ensured that the transport carriage 3 can take the cover 8along in the rear area of connecting link 2 in which it runshorizontally, without further safety and locking measures beingnecessary, that is, in these cover displacement positions, the cover canbe pushed forward without it tilting back into its closed positionbefore it has reached its most forward position of displacement.

In the closed position that is shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 5a, thecommon cam 7 is located in the lowest position of the front section 2"of the first connecting link 2. At the same time, the common cam 7 islocated in the lowest position of the second connecting link 5 in theguide carriage. If, as a result of the actuation of a drive, the drivecable now begins to move the transport carriage 3 to the rear in itsguide elements 13a, 13b parallel to the longitudinal direction S, it isguided by the relatively slight slope of the connecting link 5 on theone hand and the comparatively steep slope of the section 2' of theconnecting link 2 on the other as a result of the fact that, in spite ofa very considerable displacement of the transport carriage 3, the coversupport element 19 is slightly lifted, but only very slightly moved tothe rear. The steeper that the section 2" climbs, the less that thecover 8 moves to the rear at the same time. Since in this part of thecarriage movement the slot 6 of the means of height alteration runsalmost exactly horizontally, and in any case, with only a very slightupward climb, the rear edge of the cover is, in any case, also raisedonly very slightly by means of this carriage movement. This phase of themovement also benefits the rear cover locking mechanism, in that thelocking part 21, which is joined with the transport carriage 3 in acompression-resistant, extension-resistant manner, can be pushed out ofthe buttress 9 at the free end of the tension and compression element37. This process has for the most part been completed in the carriageposition shown in FIG. 5b.

Even though a locking element that can be released by the movement ofthe transport carriage and that the cover piece retains at first in themost forward position is not provided, the cover with its cover supportelement 19 remains in the most forward position of displacement byitself in the carriage position shown in FIG. 5c, because the course ofthe section 2" of the first connecting link 2 automatically restrictsit.

Since during this phase of the movement the cam 4 moves quickly to therear and down in the slot 6, between the positions shown in FIGS. 5b and5c, the cover is raised at its rear edge significantly more stronglythan at its front edge. The raising at the front edge is sufficient toprevent too severe a pressure or friction loading of the front coverseal 16 (see FIG. 2a). In addition, it can be seen from FIGS. 5c and 5dthat the cover is at first tilted in a relatively steep ventilationposition, while the displacement of the cover is carried out with anadvantageously smaller cover inclination.

only beginning with the transport carriage position shown in FIG. 5ddoes a further sliding back of the transport carriage 3 lead to adisplacement of the entire cover 8 to the rear that is practically asfast. Beginning with this carriage position that is shown in FIG. 5d,the cam 7b lies at the front end of the connecting link 5 and the cam 4at the rear end of the connecting link 6, and specifically, during theentire remaining course taken by the carriage, which ends only with therearmost carriage position shown in FIG. 2b and allows a comparativelyextensive opening of the roof opening 31.

Since the swiveling mobility of the tension/compression element 37relative to the transport carriage 3 is implemented by means of aheat-elastic formation of this element, this element can carry out thetilting movement of the cover with no problem and without causing aproblem. In place of this, a pure swivel joint between thetension/compression element and the transport carriage is, of course,also conceivable. Since in this case an angle has to be assumed betweenthe tilted up cover and the tension/compression element, a cam/claw linkcan also be selected as the joint, in which the claw legs are longenough to remain engaged with the cam even when the front edge of thecover is raised. In this case, the tension/compression element canalways lie parallel on the cover 8 in a displaceable fashion. Thedisplacement path of the tension/compression element along the cover isonly as long as the length of the connecting link 5 is, measured in thelongitudinal direction S. --A cover lock of that type without the use ofthe two connecting links that are oriented at an angle to each other forthe cams 7a/7b can also be used expediently and helpfully.

When the connecting link 2 climbs or falls only slightly in its reararea relative to the longitudinal direction S, this bringsabout--assuming a sufficiently vertical cam movement in the connectinglink 5--a slight falling or lifting of the rear edge of the cover withthe further displacement of the cover towards the rear. In this way,wind noise, for example, can be influenced. In the horizontal segment ofthe connecting link 2, the position of the cam 7 relative to theconnecting link 5, and thus the canted position of the cover as well,remains unchanged. A displacement of the transport carriage 3 in thisarea brings about as a result a horizontal displacement of the cover 8with retention of the tilt angle, until the cover has reached theposition shown in FIG. 2b. Upon activation of the drive apparatus in thereverse direction, the transport carriage 3 moves from the rear towardsthe front. The process described above then exactly reverses itself. Inconjunction with this, it is useful if the connecting link 5 dropsrelatively steeply in its frontmost area so that the driving force ofthe transport carriage that is working horizontally on the cam 7 is asgreat as possible, and the force component that is directed verticallydownward is as small as possible.

The transport carriage 3 is thus the only movable functional partbetween its guide elements 13a, 13b and the cover 8. This not onlyreduces the susceptibility to failure and the play, it also makespossible an especially space-saving design.

In a modification that is not shown of the form of implementationdescribed above, a first cam that is rigidly joined with the cover isguided only in the first connecting link, while the second cam is indeedlikewise rigidly joined with the cover, but is displaced with regard tothe first cam. This results in the fact that the second connecting linkdoes not intersect with the first connecting link in the presentpositions of the first and second cam, but is positioned with a paralleldisplacement that corresponds to the displaced cam positions. Theremaining components are the same as those described above. In this formof implementation the second connecting link thus likewise defines aguide curve for the first cam with regard to the transport carriage onwhich the first cam is running, when the second cam moves from one endof the second connecting link 5 to the other end of this connecting link5. In accordance with that, the position of the first cam is determinedby the point of intersection of this second guide curve with the firstconnecting link, while the second connecting link does not necessarilycross the first connecting link.

Further modifications of the implementation example described above andshown in the figures can provide for the fact that the connecting linkof the means of height alteration are allocated to the transportcarriage and the cover cam that engages with it. The positions of thecommon cam and of the first and second cams, along with the positions ofthe first and second connecting links can be placed to the rear, and thecam and the slot of the means of height alteration can be placed to thefront, that is, the two connecting link guides are thus exchanged witheach other. The sequence of movements when opening the cover, and inparticular, the transition between the individual phases opening andclosing the cover, can be changed or modified by means of an appropriatechange in the shape of the connecting link, with nothing further beingnecessary.

In accordance with the present invention, a sliding roof can also beimplemented in which the cover is made up of a number of individualcovers, each of which tilts and displaces during opening as describedabove. To do this, each cover piece is joined with a transport carriagein the manner described above. Alternatively, individual cover elementscan also be joined with one another by means of parallelogram linkage.

Finally, instead of guiding the cover at the side pieces of the frame,it is also possible to guide it at a center brace, as is known from DE40 37 975 A1, among others. When this is done, a multifunction profilesection (as is described by making reference to the drawings), forexample, can be used as the center brace.

I claim:
 1. Adjustment apparatus for a sunroof, which exhibits at leastone cover piece for the optional closing and partial uncovering of aroof opening in a solid roof area of a vehicle, and in which the roofopening is delimited by a base piece with side pieces that define alongitudinal direction and that lie opposite one another, and in whichthe cover piece is displaceable along the longitudinal direction,includingat least one cover support element that is rigidly joined withthe cover piece, and that can be tilted around a first cam portion whichruns crosswise to the longitudinal direction, and that can be displacedalong the longitudinal direction by means of the first cam portion, atleast one guide surface that extends along the longitudinal directionand is formed from said base piece, at least one carriage element thatis guided in a displaceable fashion along the guide surface and thatmoves the cover piece, and means of control for adjusting the positionof the cover piece relative to the carriage element in order that theycan be moved relative to one another and along the longitudinaldirection, the improvement comprisinga first connecting link comprisinga longitudinally extending profile section secured to the base piece andhaving a first guide curve therein in which the first cam portion isguided, the carriage element and the cover support element being joinedby a second connecting link that is a slot having a second guide curvetherein and by a second cam portion that is guided in the secondconnecting link such that the first cam portion moves along the secondguide curve relative to the carriage element when the second cam portionis moved within the slot of the second connecting link, said first guidecurve of said first connecting link having a front section which climbssteeply relative to the longitudinal direction, and subsequently makes atransition to said profile section that is generally parallel to thelongitudinal direction, the first guide curve, in all positions of thecarriage element along the guide surface, forming an angle with thesecond guide curve as measured at the position of the first and secondcam portions whereby the carrying along of the cover support element bythe carriage element is assured.
 2. Adjustment apparatus of claim 1wherein the second guide curve of the second connecting link extendslongitudinally from a first end to a second end along a monotonicfalling course.
 3. Adjustment apparatus of claim 2 wherein the frontsection of the first guide curve is generally perpendicular to the guidecurve at the first end.
 4. Adjustment apparatus for a sunroof, whichexhibits at least one cover piece for the optional closing and partialuncovering of a roof opening in a solid roof area of a vehicle, and inwhich the roof opening is delimited by a base piece with side piecesthat define a longitudinal direction and that lie opposite one another,and in which the cover piece is displaceable along the longitudinaldirection, includingat least one cover support element that is rigidlyjoined with the cover piece, and that can be tilted around a first camportion which runs crosswise to the longitudinal direction, and that canbe displaced along the longitudinal direction by means of the first camportion, at least one guide surface that extends along the longitudinaldirection and is formed from said base piece, at least one carriageelement that is guided in a displaceable fashion along the guide surfaceand that moves the cover piece, and means of control for adjusting theposition of the cover piece relative to the carriage element in orderthat they can be moved relative to one another and along thelongitudinal direction, the improvement comprisinga first connectinglink comprising a longitudinally extending profile section secured tothe base piece and having a first guide curve therein in which the firstcam portion is guided, the carriage element and the cover supportelement being joined by a second connecting link that is a slot having asecond guide curve therein and by a second cam portion that is guided inthe second connecting link such that the first cam portion moves alongthe second guide curve relative to the carriage element when the secondcam portion is moved within the slot of the second connecting link, alocking mechanism which is actuated remotely by the carriage element bya tension element that exhibits a locking piece on the end that isfurthest from the carriage element, and which acts between the coverpiece and the base piece, wherein the tension element is secured to thecarriage element in a manner that allows a swiveling movement of thetension element relative to said carriage element, and is held at an endthat is furthest from the carriage element to the cover piece in amanner that allows a longitudinal displacing movement relative to saidcover support element, the first guide curve, in all positions of thecarriage element along the guide surface, forming an angle with thesecond guide curve as measured at the position of the first and secondcam portions whereby the carrying along of the cover support element bythe carriage element is assured.
 5. Adjustment apparatus for a sunroof,which exhibits at least one cover piece for the optional closing andpartial uncovering of a roof opening in a solid roof area of a vehicle,and in which the roof opening is delimited by a base piece with sidepieces that define a longitudinal direction and that lie opposite oneanother, and in which the cover piece is displaceable along thelongitudinal direction, includingat least one cover support element thatis rigidly joined with the cover piece, and that can be tilted around afirst cam portion which runs crosswise to the longitudinal direction,and that can be displaced along the longitudinal direction by means ofthe first cam portion, at least one guide surface that extends along thelongitudinal direction and is formed from said base piece, at least onecarriage element that is guided in a displaceable fashion along theguide surface and that moves the cover piece, and means of control foradjusting the position of the cover piece relative to the carriageelement in order that they can be moved relative to one another andalong the longitudinal direction, the improvement comprisinga firstconnecting link comprising a longitudinally extending profile sectionsecured to the base piece and having a first guide curve therein inwhich the first cam portion is guided, the carriage element and thecover support element being joined by a second connecting link that is aslot having a second guide curve therein and by a second cam portionthat is guided in the second connecting link such that the first camportion moves along the second guide curve relative to the carriageelement when the second cam portion is moved within the slot of thesecond connecting link, the second connecting link being formed in thecarriage element and the second cam portion being formed on the coversupport element said first guide curve of said first connecting linkhaving a front section which climbs steeply relative to the longitudinaldirection, and subsequently makes a transition to said profile sectionthat is generally parallel to the longitudinal direction, the firstguide curve, in all positions of the carriage element along the guidesurface, forming an angle with the second guide curve as measured at theposition of the first and second cam portions, whereby the carryingalong of the cover support element by the carriage element is assured.6. Adjustment apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second guide curve of thesecond connecting link extends longitudinally from a first end to asecond end along a monotonic falling course.
 7. Adjustment apparatus ofclaim 6 wherein the front section of the first guide curve is generallyperpendicular to the guide curve at the first end.
 8. Adjustmentapparatus for a sunroof, which exhibits at least one cover piece for theoptional closing and partial uncovering of a roof opening in a solidroof area of a vehicle, and in which the roof opening is delimited by abase piece with side pieces that define a longitudinal direction andthat lie opposite one another, and in which the cover piece isdisplaceable along the longitudinal direction, includingat least onecover support element that is rigidly joined with the cover piece, andthat can be tilted around a first cam portion which runs crosswise tothe longitudinal direction, and that can be displaced along thelongitudinal direction by means of the first cam portion, at least oneguide surface that extends along the longitudinal direction and isformed from said base piece, at least one carriage element that isguided in a displaceable fashion along the guide surface and that movesthe cover piece, and means of control for adjusting the position of thecover piece relative to the carriage element in order that they can bemoved relative to one another and along the longitudinal direction, theimprovement comprisinga first connecting link comprising alongitudinally extending profile section secured to the base piece andhaving a first guide curve therein in which the first cam portion isguided, the carriage element and the cover support element being joinedby a second connecting link that is a slot having a second guide curvetherein and by a second cam portion that is guided in the secondconnecting link such that the first cam portion moves along the secondguide curve relative to the carriage element when the second cam portionis moved within the slot of the second connecting link, secondconnecting link being formed in the carriage element and the second camportion being formed on the cover support element, a locking mechanism,which is actuated remotely by the carriage element by a tension elementthat exhibits a locking piece on the end that is furthest from thecarriage element, and which acts between the cover piece and the basepiece, wherein the tension element is secured to the carriage element ina manner that allows a swiveling movement of the tension elementrelative to the carriage element, and is held at an end that is furthestfrom the carriage element to the cover piece in a manner that allows adisplacing longitudinal movement relative to the said cover supportelement, the first guide curve, in all positions of the carriage elementalong the guide surface, forming an angle with the second guide curve asmeasured at the position of the first and second cam portions, wherebythe carrying along of the cover support element by the carriage elementis assured.
 9. Adjustment apparatus for a sunroof, which exhibits atleast one cover piece for the optional closing and partial uncovering ofa roof opening in a solid roof area of a vehicle, and in which the roofopening is delimited by a base piece with side pieces that define alongitudinal direction and that lie opposite one another, and in whichthe cover piece is displaceable along the longitudinal direction,includingat least one cover support element that is rigidly joined withthe cover piece, and that can be tilted around a first cam portion whichruns crosswise to the longitudinal direction, and that can be displacedalong the longitudinal direction by means of the first cam portion, atleast one guide surface that extends along the longitudinal directionand is formed from said base piece, at least one carriage element thatis guided in a displaceable fashion along the guide surface and thatmoves the cover piece, and means of control for adjusting the positionof the cover piece relative to the carriage element in order that theycan be moved relative to one another and along the longitudinaldirection, the improvement comprisinga first connecting link comprisinga longitudinally extending profile section secured to the base piece andhaving a first guide curve therein in which the first cam portion isguided, the carriage element and the cover support element being joinedby a second connecting link that is a slot having a second guide curvetherein and by a second cam portion that is guided in the secondconnecting link such that the first cam portion move along the secondguide curve relative to the carriage element when the second cam portionis moved within the slot of the second connecting link, the first camportion and the second cam portion comprise a single cam, the firstguide curve, in all positions of the carriage element along the guidesurface, forming an angle with the second guide curve as measured at theposition of the first and second cam positions whereby the carryingalong of the cover support element by the carriage element is assured,the second guide curve of the second connecting link extendinglongitudinally from a first end to a second end along a monotonicfalling course.